Quick answer: Rochester has 29 low-cost dental listings in our directory, all in Monroe County and all open to the public. If you're uninsured, start with the community health centers like Trillium Health or Jordan Health, which charge sliding-scale fees based on income and accept Medicaid. For a free cleaning, the MCC dental hygiene clinic is worth a call, and the hospital dental clinics offer reduced fees.
When I went through the 29 Rochester listings in our directory, I found a real mix of clinic types: 8 community health centers, 7 low-cost community clinics (several of them hospital programs), 6 nonprofit community clinics, 5 school-based or mobile programs, 2 hospital dental clinics and 1 dental hygiene school clinic.
One honest caveat up front: only one of these listings publishes its exact hours, and 21 of the 29 ask you to contact the clinic about fees. That doesn't mean they're expensive; it means you'll get the clearest answer by phone. I've noted which clinics have more detail so you know where to start.
Where can I get low-cost dental care in Rochester?
These are the clinics I'd call first. I put the ones with published fee and Medicaid information at the top, then added the free hygiene clinic and the hospital programs. For every clinic, call to confirm dental hours before you go.
Community health centers (sliding-scale fees)
Trillium Health
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 259 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
- Phone: (585) 244-9000
- Hours: About 49 hours a week; call for dental hours
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Open to everyone, with fees discounted on a sliding scale based on income. Offers outpatient dental care.
Jordan Health Link
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 273 Upper Falls Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14605
- Phone: (585) 784-5900
- Hours: About 40 hours a week; call for dental hours
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Open to everyone, with a sliding fee scale based on income.
Woodward Health Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 480 Genesee St, Rochester, NY 14611
- Phone: (585) 436-3040
- Hours: About 48 hours a week; call for dental hours
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Open to everyone on a sliding fee scale, with outpatient dental care on Genesee Street.
Jordan Health Dental at VOA Center
- Type: Community Health Center
- Address: 214 Lake Ave, Rochester, NY 14608
- Phone: (585) 423-5800
- Hours: About 12 hours a week; call for dental hours
- Cost: Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Medicaid: Accepted
- Good to know: Dental hours here are limited, so call before you go. Fees are on a sliding scale for everyone.
Also on Lake Avenue, Brown Square Health Center lists sliding-scale fees and Medicaid. For people experiencing homelessness, Health Reach - Health Care for the Homeless on Monroe Avenue lists outpatient dental care; call to ask about fees.
Free cleanings at a dental hygiene school
MCC Viswanathan Dental Hygiene Clinic
- Type: Dental Hygiene School Clinic
- Address: 1000 East Henrietta Road, Building 7, Room 201, Rochester, NY 14623
- Phone: (585) 292-2045
- Hours: Mon-Thu 8am-4pm, limited evenings; closed in summer
- Cost: Free
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: For anyone age 3 and older who hasn't had a cleaning in the past 12 months. Supervised hygiene students provide cleanings, X-rays, sealants, fluoride and gum exams. It's a cleaning clinic, so you'll need a dentist for fillings or extractions.
Hospital and nonprofit dental clinics
Eastman Dental Center
- Type: Hospital Dental Clinic
- Address: 625 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620
- Phone: (585) 275-5051
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Outpatient dental care at reduced fees. Eastman Dental also runs mobile dental vans that visit schools.
Rochester General Hospital
- Type: Hospital Dental Clinic
- Address: 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621
- Phone: (585) 922-4000
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Reduced fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: Outpatient dental care. Call to confirm fees and ask about financial assistance.
Downtown Dental Center
- Type: Nonprofit Community Clinic
- Address: 228 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14604
- Phone: (585) 546-7501
- Hours: Not listed, call ahead
- Cost: Contact the clinic about fees
- Medicaid: Not stated
- Good to know: A nonprofit outpatient dental clinic on East Main Street. Ask about fees and whether they take your plan when you call.
Other hospital-run outpatient dental programs in the directory include Highland Hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital and Unity at Ridgeway. For each, the listing says to call to confirm fees and financial assistance.
Are there dental options for people with disabilities?
Going by their names, several Rochester listings focus on patients with disabilities: the Developmentally Disabled Clinic at Monroe Community Hospital, the Golisano Autism Center, and two United Cerebral Palsy Association of the Rochester Area locations. All are listed as open to the public, but call first to ask who they serve and how fees work.
What about dental care for kids at school?
Five Rochester listings are school-based or mobile programs, including Eastman Dental's mobile dental vans and a program at East High School. These generally serve students at the schools they cover, so ask your child's school whether a dental van visits.
Does New York Medicaid cover adult dental care?
Yes. New York's Medicaid program covers dental care for adults as well as children. Since early 2024, the state has allowed broader coverage of root canals, crowns, replacement dentures and, when medically necessary, implants. Larger treatments often need prior approval, and details depend on your plan.
Children who don't qualify for Medicaid may be able to get Child Health Plus, New York's low-cost coverage for kids under 19, which includes dental care. You can check options at Insure Kids Now.
My advice: when you call, give the name of your Medicaid plan and ask, "Do you take my plan for dental?"
How much will I pay for dental care in Rochester?
Here's how fees break down across the 29 listings:
- Contact the clinic about fees: 21 listings
- Sliding-scale fees based on income: 5 listings, all community health centers
- Reduced fees: 2 listings, the hospital dental clinics
- Free: 1 listing, the MCC hygiene clinic
If you're uninsured, a sliding-scale health center is usually the most predictable choice. Ask what you'll pay for an exam and X-rays before you book, and get a written estimate before larger work.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- A photo ID
- Proof of income (pay stubs, a benefits letter or a tax return) for the sliding fee
- Proof of address
- Your Medicaid, Child Health Plus or insurance card
- A list of the medicines you take
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a free dental cleaning in Rochester? The MCC Viswanathan Dental Hygiene Clinic lists free cleanings for anyone age 3 and up who hasn't had one in the past year. It closes in summer.
Do Rochester health centers see uninsured patients? Yes. Trillium Health, Jordan Health Link, Woodward and Brown Square are open to everyone, with sliding-scale fees.
What if I need a dentist in an emergency? Call a health center first thing in the morning, explain you're in pain, and ask whether they hold same-day slots. You can also search federally funded centers with the health center finder.
More low-cost dental care in New York
If you're traveling west, see my guide to low-cost dental care in Buffalo, or read about low-cost dental care in New York City. You can browse every listing on the Rochester city page. Our directory covers low-cost dental clinics across New York, from Rochester and Buffalo to the Bronx and Brooklyn.